Process for producing aluminum oxanes, in particular methylaluminum oxane, from water and organoaluminum compounds, in particular trimethylaluminum, in inert hydrocarbons

Abstract

A process is disclosed for producing aluminum oxane by subjecting frozen water in a solution of trialkylaluminum in hydrocarbons to erosive action. In particular, a process is disclosed for producing methylaluminum oxane which is characterized in that frozen water in a solution of trimethylaluminum in hydrocarbons is subjected to erosive action which is exerted by mechanical action or by one or more intensive liquid jets of the reaction solution sweeping over the surface of the frozen water.

We claim: 
     
       1. A process for producing methylaluminum oxane, which comprises subjecting frozen water in a solution of trimethylaluminum in hydrocarbons to erosive action exerted by mechanical action on the surface of the frozen water or by one or more intensive liquid jets of the solution sweeping over the surface of the frozen water. 
     
     
       2. A process as defined in claim 1, wherein said mechanical action is exerted by rapidly rotating impact blades. 
     
     
       3. A process as defined in claim 1, wherein said erosion is effected by means of scouring and scraping tools on a surface of the frozen water. 
     
     
       4. A process as defined in claim 1, wherein a 5 to 15% solution of trimethylaluminum in toluene or cumene is used as the solution of trimethylaluminum in hydrocarbons. 
     
     
       5. A process as defined in claim 1, wherein the velocity of erosion, the velocity of cooling or both are controlled so that an internal temperature from about 190 to 250 K. is obtained. 
     
     
       6. A process as defined in claim 5, wherein the velocity of erosion, the velocity of cooling or both are controlled so that, at an internal temperature of less than 250 K., not more than 0.25 mole of water per liter of solution is eroded and reacted per hour. 
     
     
       7. A process for producing an aluminum oxane, which comprises subjecting frozen water in a solution of trialkylaluminum in hydrocarbons to erosive action. 
     
     
       8. A process as defined in claim 7, wherein said aluminum oxane is methylaluminum oxane. 
     
     
       9. A process as defined in claim 7, wherein said frozen water is in a solution of trimethylaluminum in hydrocarbons. 
     
     
       10. A process as defined in claim 7, wherein said erosion controls through mechanical action exerted on the frozen water. 
     
     
       11. A process as defined in claim 10, wherein said mechanical action is exerted by rapidly rotating impact blades. 
     
     
       12. A process as defined in claim 10, wherein said erosion is effected by means of scouring and scraping tools on a surface of the frozen water. 
     
     
       13. A process as defined in claim 7, wherein said erosion is effected through one or more intensive liquid jets of the solution sweeping over the surface of the frozen water. 
     
     
       14. A process as defined in claim 9, wherein a 5 to 15 weight % of trimethylaluminum in toluene or cumene is used as the solution of trimethylaluminum in hydrocarbons. 
     
     
       15. A process as defined in claim 7, wherein the velocity of erosion, the velocity of cooling or both are controlled so that an internal temperature from about 190 to 250 K. is obtained. 
     
     
       16. A process as defined in claim 15, wherein said temperature is from about 220 to 240 K. 
     
     
       17. A process as defined in claim 15, wherein the velocity of erosion, the velocity of cooling or both are controlled so that, at an internal temperature of less than about 250 K., not more than about 0.25 mole of water per liter of solution is eroded and reacted per hour. 
     
     
       18. A process as defined in claim 9, wherein the quantities of water and of trimethylaluminum are sized so that after the frozen water has been used up or the erosive action has ceased, unreacted trimethyaluminum is still present. 
     
     
       19. A process as defined in claim 18, wherein said unreacted trimethylaluminum is present in an amount of about 10 to 50 g per liter. 
     
     
       20. A process as defined in claim 9, wherein an excess of trimethylaluminum is introduced initially and then maintained by replenishment at a rate at which the trimethylaluminum is consumed.